He's Captured My Heart (Captured Series Book 1) (11 page)

“Good PR, bad PR it’s all the same. You get the same effect from both, your name in the papers.” I hiss.

I am a bit apprehensive of press coverage if I’m totally honest. Dad has always done his best to ensure that Ethan and I were kept away from that side of Dad’s business, but there have been a few times when he wasn’t able to keep the two parts separate, and I found myself having to deal with the
not-so-nice aspects of PR. I know there are loads of people who do love the attention and seeing their names and pictures in the paper. But it’s not for me.

“Libby, what’s wrong?” Alex asks. I obviously look either concerned or terrified. Well, I am.

“It’s just that I hate being put in the spotlight for anything,” I say, turning to face my dad. “It’s fine. I will do whatever is required of me—you know I will. But I don’t get why your business path and family path have to cross. After everything that’s happened in the past, you’ve tried so hard to keep parts of your life separated—and for very good reason. And with the upcoming trial of the driver who has been charged with Lindsay’s death, Ethan needs me to be focused, not worrying about whatever the press decide to write about his sister again. Now if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have a hotel to run,” I say drily as I push my plate away and rise to my feet. I turn on my heel and walk away.

“Libby, wait!” Dad says, but I just keep going.

“Phil, don’t. I’ll go after her,” I hear Alex say.

Alex catches up with me in the hotel corridor. He reaches out and grasps my elbow, stopping me in my tracks, which sends a shiver down my spine.

“What is it, Alex? I have work to do this morning, if you don’t mind?” I say tiredly, trying to shrug him off.

“Libby, I didn’t know your dad was planning this. Well, I knew he was going to get press coverage but
not that he would involve you,” Alex says. “I’ll tell him to stop if it upsets you so much, but I guess…I guess it would be good to know why you’re so against it. Because I would
love
to be seen with you.”

“I’ll tell you my reasons later on, but I have a meeting in less than an hour, and I really do need to do some work before I take off with you this afternoon,” I say, more civil this time. “But you’ve just given me another reason why I don’t want to be seen in public with you.”

Alex looks puzzled and bewildered by my statement. I leave him standing in the corridor, and I can feel his stare following me. I head straight to my office, passing Sally at reception and slamming my office door shut behind me. I march over to my desk and throw myself down in my seat. I am so angry with my dad at this moment. He knows how I feel about the press.

There’s a knock at my door, and Kieran enters without waiting for me to call him in.

“I’ve brought you a cup of tea. Looks like you could do with it,” he says. “It’s just past nine o’clock. Surely the morning can’t be
that
bad?” He holds the cup out to me.

“You’ve no idea, Kieran. Why does everything have to be so damn complicated?”

“So have I to presume this involves a certain American?” I nod and let him continue. “If he’s hurt you, so help me god!”

“No, no…nothing like that. My father has just informed me that the press will be here on Sunday and at the football to get, as he phrased it, ‘the right sort of press coverage for Alex’—meaning him being seen with
me
. And now Alex has said he would
love
to be seen out with me, so there’s little chance he’ll be especially discreet.” I pause and draw in a deep breath.

“I’m not sure I see the problem, love.”

“Well, I’m thinking about what Stephen said yesterday, about all those photos out there of Alex with numerous women. I don’t want to be someone’s handy prop—a way to further Alex’s fortunes over here—and I’m brassed off at Dad for using me that way. And anyway, I have no desire to see myself in the papers in a good light or bad. That’s it—rant over for this morning. I want to get on with the jobs at hand.” I sip the tea gratefully.

“Are you sure, honey?” Kieran walks round the desk and puts both arms round my neck. “You know I’m a great listener, and my advice for you is always free, love.”

Kieran is great, but right now I am not sure I want to go into all the gory details about my history with the press. It’s out there if you know where to look, and Kieran and I have only been friends a short time. It’s not something I reveal to everyone. Maybe I will in time, but not right now when I’m this upset about it.

“Yes, I’m sure. Now let’s get a wriggle on. We have a lot to sort out this morning before I leave you in charge.”

The rest of the morning runs smoothly. We have a meeting with all department heads to go over all the arrangements for tomorrow’s wedding: food, wine, flowers, staff. My father sits in, listening quietly from the corner of the room, taking notes. I hardly look at him. I’m still too angry. I hope I can talk some sense into him. Everything is in order for the wedding; all we need is for the sun to be shining and for the bride and groom to both turn up.

We go through each department’s budgets and running costs, increasing and cutting where necessary. We need more servers in the restaurant, so Kieran needs to advertise for waiting staff. We could also do with another chef, but Karl wants to hold off for a few weeks to give the chefs he currently has a chance to prove their worth. I tell him not to leave it too long to make a decision, because we have to think about Christmas.

I give credit where it’s due: Karl is doing an amazing job in the kitchen, which is inspiring other departments to do well. Everyone seems happy enough, although Kieran and I have decided that we need to spend a bit more time on the leisure centre—not because it’s underperforming, as it’s still meeting all targets, but because it could do with a facelift. That’s a conversation to have with my dearest dad.

The meeting finishes at half past eleven, and everyone heads back to get on with his or her own job. This leaves my dad, Kieran, and me to go through some of the points that came up in the meeting. On a whole I think my father is impressed with how we’re running the place, and he has even given me the go-ahead to have some plans drawn up for the leisure centre. I don’t want to change everything dramatically—fresh paint throughout and a bit of an upgrade in the changing rooms might do it—but I’m willing to listen to suggestions from a designer. Kieran, probably sensing tension between my father and me, announces that he has a few errands to do round the hotel and leaves us to it. Dad and I head back to my office.

“Libby, sorry about earlier. I just didn’t think.”

“No, you didn’t. Surely you remember how bad it was when the press wrote all that stuff about me and Tony? Dad, it was
awful
. I still remember the police questioning me on and on after he was charged with all those sexual assaults on young girls,” I say. “The stories in the papers…well, the less said about those, the better.” I try to give him a smile, but I can’t even manage that, thinking about the past.

Tony was a young actor. I thought he was great. Both Ethan and I looked up to Tony. He was eighteen, and we were fifteen. He was one of Dad’s big clients, and he was always around. Dad considered him part of the family. Ethan and I were often invited along
to the interviews if we were around, and I always jumped at the chance to go, just to hang out with him. I would stand at the side, listening in awe of everything he said.

I admit it. I was fifteen. So naturally I had a huge crush on him. Who wouldn’t if they had seen him? After he kissed me at one of my father’s parties, I thought I was in love. I was young and naïve, and Tony always showed a lot of interest in me when I was around. Maybe too much interest. It started off with chance remarks about my appearance or him accidently brushing against me.

But the more famous he got, the more he changed, and not for the better. He started to make me feel very uncomfortable with his suggestions of what could happen between us. I shut myself away, and I stopped going with him to interviews and events. Dad says that Tony’s fondness for drink, drugs, and the fame got him thinking he could do what he liked with whomever he wanted. When the news broke that Tony had been accused by a young girl of sexual assault, Dad shook his head sadly and said there would be more. I don’t know if he knew that for sure or if he just expected that the first victim’s courage would embolden the others to come forward. I do know that he never thought that
my
name would show up in the papers. It was just gossip, unfounded rumours, but the damage was out there. My dad was furious with himself for letting Tony get so close, but he had trusted him. He still blames
himself. After that, Dad always kept his clients away from us. Until now. So why is Alex so different?

“Libby, sweetheart, I can assure you that there will be nothing like before, with Alex in the papers. Anyway, Alex is nothing like Tony. He has an extremely good business reputation. I would never put you in harm’s way again. You have to trust me on this.” He gives me a reassuring smile, but I’m not convinced. Something just feels wrong although I am unsure, I’ve never had reason to doubt my father before, so I have no idea why I am just now.

I smile back weakly as we enter my office.
What the hell have I done? Should I ’fess up to Dad about my…romantic interest? I might be better off throwing myself into the lion’s den
. We are chatting about what exposure my dad hopes to get for Alex and his companies when the phone rings.

“Miss Stewart?” It’s Sally from reception. I love her voice—always so professional and courteous.

“Yes, Sally. What can I do for you?”

“I have Mr. Mathews and Mr. Smith at reception for you.”

“Send them through. Thanks.”

“Okay.”

“Dad, that’s Alex and Michael on their way through. I’m really not sure what to do with them today. Any suggestions?”

“What about going out on the loch?”

Just as they enter my office, my mobile rings. Kirsty. God, I forgot to call her. I’d better answer.

“Hey, you,” I say to her.

“Hey, yourself. What’re you doing today? I’m bored.” Kirsty is always bored. She really needs to get a job.

“Well, I have Dad’s clients today. We’re planning on going out. Is everything all right?” I ask.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Maybe we can catch up later or tomorrow?” She doesn’t sound fine. There’s obviously a problem. Kirsty’s not usually this vague.

“Um…not sure what my plans are yet for the rest of the day or tomorrow. It would have to be tomorrow night. Can I give you a call back in a bit?”

“Yeah, sure.” She hangs up on me. This has to be one of the strangest conversations I’ve ever had with her. I hope she’s all right.

“Alex, Michael,” I say, greeting them both now that I’m off the phone. Dad has been chatting away, keeping them occupied.

“Your dad has suggested going out on the loch. Is that all right with you? Maybe we could do a picnic lunch?” Alex asks me with a smile that melts my heart.

“Yes, I think that would be perfect. I’ll ask the kitchen to make us up a lunch to take along and have Sally make arrangements for the three of us.”

I’m pleased that at least the bloody press won’t be following us around today, unless they have their own boats. I’m safe for another day.

7

THIRTY MINUTES LATER
I am changed out of work clothes, and we are on board the hotel’s private tour boat preparing to set off. Stephen is our official tour guide, and to everyone else he probably seems fine, but so far he’s not been able to string two words together with me. I just don’t know what his problem is. Oh, that’s right. I do. It’s a certain American that he has taken an instant dislike to without even knowing him.

The kitchen rustled up a rather elaborate picnic for the four of us. It looks and smells divine and includes a couple of bottles of wine, some water, and a selection of juices. So far it’s been a day for clearing the air. Dad and I sorted things out, and now I need to do the same with Stephen. Then it will be time to deal with Alex, whom I have purposely avoided since leaving my office.

“Stephen, can I have a minute?” I ask, approaching him.

“Yeah. Sure, Libby. What’s up?” He smiles at me weakly.

“Listen. Alex is an important client for Dad. Do you think you can at least be civil? Try and stay professional?” I didn’t mean for my words to come out so snappy, but it’s done now.

“Libby, if there had been someone else available to take you out today, I would have chosen not to be here. But as it is, I am here, and yes, I will be civil,” Stephen says quietly. “I’m not paid to like him, though. I’m paid to do a job, and that’s what I’ll do this afternoon. There’s just something about him that bothers me. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“You don’t even know him,” I say. I want to say,
you’re just jealous!
I hold myself back, though. I suppose there could be something more to Stephen’s attitude; he’s always been a good judge of character.

“Neither do you, Libby.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. Stephen’s never been that abrupt with me before, not in all the years I’ve known him. So is he mad because he thinks I like Alex? Or out of some genuine concern?

“Stephen. Enough.”

“It’s not you, Libby. You’re my friend, and I care—probably too much—but I know we’ll only ever be friends, and I accept that. But I don’t trust him. Let’s leave it at that so we don’t fall out,” he says with a
half-hearted smile. Stephen then turns round to face the others. “So are we all ready to go? If so, we’ll set off. I can answer most questions you’ll have about the loch and the surrounding area, so gents, don’t be shy.”

And with that, we set sail, so to speak; the boat is a speedboat, so it doesn’t actually have any sails, just a fast, purring pair of inboards. I take a seat opposite Michael, who just smiles at me. He really is a man of very few words. Alex is talking to Stephen. That could be an interesting conversation. But it’s not long before Alex turns, stares at me, and heads over to take the seat right beside me. I try to ignore the force that draws me towards him. I don’t turn to look at him; instead I focus on the water and the truly breath-taking scenery: the Munros and the Corbett’s, the plentiful islands, the bountiful wildlife and fish.